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H. W. KURTZ. CHRISTMAS TREE STAND.

No. 573,225. Patented D55. 15,1895.

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WITNESSES: v v nvmvron W- WW UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY \V. KURTZ, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

CHRISTMAS-TREE STAND.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.

573,225, dated December 15, 1896.

Application filed December 27, 1895. $eria1No.573,424. (No model.)

not necessitate the body of the tree being trimmed, as is customary, to enter a socket in the stand, but to construct the said stand in such a manner that the body of the tree will be received upon the stand and held in position upon the base thereof, while a series of braces connected with the base or body of the stand may be attached to and grouped around the trunk of the tree in such a manner as to effectually prevent the tree from toppling over, maintaining it steadily upon the stand, the attachment of the stand to the tree being accomplished in an exceedingly simple and expeditious manner.

Anotherobject of this invention is to provide a Christmas-tree stand which will be simple and economic and wherein the parts may be separated and packed one upon the other in a minimum of space without injury to any of the'parts, it being possible to place the stand in position to receive the tree with but little trouble and in a short space of time.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the several parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar figures and letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both the views.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved stand or holder, illustrating the manner in which the tree is supported thereon; and Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the said stand when it is dismantled and packed for storage. I

In carrying out the invention the stand preferably consists of two base or body members A and A and a series of braces B, pivotally attached to the said body or base members. The lowermost base member A conlent supports 14 at ter member is provided centrally upon its sists of a bar or beam of suitable length, provided at each end with a leg 11 or a block adapted to rest upon the floor or other support, and the said bar or beam is provided in the central portion of its upper face with a transverse recess 12, extending from side to side. The upper base member A comprises also a bar or beam 13, having legs or equivaeach end, and this latunder face with a recess 15, each recess in each base member being capable of snugly receiving the opposing member, and the recesses are of such depth preferably that when the recessed portion of one beam is placed over the recessed portion of another beam and the two timbers are forced in engage ment one will be substantially flush with the other.

The upper base member A is provided with a spike or pin 16, which is introduced therein at the center, the head of the spike being in the recess 15 of said beam, as shown in Fig. 2, whereby when the two beams of the base are placed in interlocking engagement the head of the pin will be prevented from being driven downward because of its bearing upon the wall of the recess in the lower cross-beam or member of the base.

Each member or beam of the base is provided with a brace B, heretofore referred to, pivotally connected therewith at or near one of its ends, the braces being located upon opposite sides of the said beams or members, as is shown in the drawings. Each brace at its free end is provided with a screw 17 or equivalent device, or is simply provided with an aperture to receive a nail or a screw or other fastening device. Preferably, however, a screw-eye is located in the free end of each brace in order that it may be readily screwed into the trunk of a tree.

In operation one member of the base is placed across the other with the interlocking connection heretofore described, and the body of the tree is forced down upon the pin or spike 16, as shown in Fig. 1. The various braces 13 are then carried upward to an engagement with the tree a predetermined dis tance above its butt, and the braces are then attached rigidly to the tree by the fastening devices located at their free ends. In this manner a simple brace is obtained and one in which the tree will be thoroughly held and prevented from toppling over. Furthermore, the tree may be eXpeditiously and conveniently placed in position by any person, though unskilled in such duties, because the butt of the tree need not be trimmed, but simply cut 01f, preferably straight, in order that it may receive the spike 16 and rest securely upon the base or body of the stand.

\Vhen the stand is no longer needed, the members of the base may be separated, placed one upon the other, and the braces may be folded down along the sides, as shown in Fig. 2. hen the members of the holder are so arranged, they will occupy but little room.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A Christmas-tree stand or holder consisting of base members detachably secured together in substantially cruciform shape, and braces pivotally attached to opposite sides of the members, the said braces being fitted at their free ends to receive fastening devices and adapted for attachment to the trunk of a tree at said free end, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A Christmas-tree holder or stand, the same consisting of detachable interlocking base or body members, one of the members being provided with a pin at its junction with its fellow member, and a series of braces pivoted to opposite sides of the said members at a predetermined point between their centers and outer ends, the opposite ends of the braces being free and adapted for engagement with the trunk of a tree placed upon the said pin, the said upper ends of the braces being further adapted for attachment to the trunk of the tree, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. Astand for a Christin as-tree, comprising basemembers crossed loosely one upon the other and wholly detachable one from the other, braces pivotally attached to the side faces of the base-pieces near the ends and fastening devices at the free ends of said braces adapted to be engaged into the body of a tree, substantially as described.

4. A tree holder or stand, comprising the base or body members, means whereby said members may be detachably secured in cruciform shape, and braces arranged on opposite sides of and foldable alongside said base members, the braces of each base member being pivoted near their outer ends to such members, one brace being pivoted near one end and the other brace near the other end of the member supporting said two braces, and the latter being formed near their free ends for attachment to the tree-trunk, substantially as shown and described.

HENRY WV. KURTZ.

\Vituesses:

JULIUS A. Torr, Orro SOHWEAK. 

